Marking apparatus for applying printed indicia to a moving web



Dec. 16, 1958 K. H. BROWNLEE ,3

MARKING APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PRINTED INDICIA TO A MOVING WEB Filed Dec. 29. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WNNm U QQNW Q T 3 m m m w l N ilt. $1 X mm NQ w/ J (w WE u %w n a //,\.u\ 4 NE m w a m w Q? m w mm NQNw m N mum u mq ME 3 K &

1958 H. BROWNLEE 2,864,309

K. MARKING APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PRINTED INDICIA TO A MOVING WEB Filed Dec. 29. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Ken TOZZJW/Z,

United States Patent MARKING APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PRINTED INDICIA TO A MOVING WEB 'Kenneth H. Brownlee, Skokie, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to National Dairy Products Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1954, Serial No. 478,256

9 Claims. (Cl. 101-244) food, especially perishable products such as cheese, butter, margarine, etc., to mark the individual package units with a code number or the like to indicate the date of packaging or other pertinent data. Similarly, in the packaging of many other types of merchandise, it is frequently advantageous to apply indicia of one sort or another to the individual packages or containers. However, difliculty has been encountered in devising a suitable marking means for use with automatic high speed wrapping machinery wherein individual units of food or the like are wrapped in wax paper, cellophane, plastic sheet material or other suitable wrapping material which is fed continuously at high speeds to a wrapping machine from a roll or bulk supply. The usual printing or marking methods have been found unsuitable, particularly where the Wrapping material comprises wax paper or other difiieultly printable material. 7 1

As will hereinafter appear, in order to overcome such printing difiiculties the present invention preferably makes use of a continuous tape having a heat releasable coating of a suitably colored marking material. By superimposing the tape against the web of material being printed and impressing a heated printing member against the tape, the desired indicia or marking is transferred from the tape to the web in a very effective manner.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved marking machine of the character described which is adapted for use in the continuous marking of a high speed traveling web such as a wrapping material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel marking machine of the foregoing type which is particularly advantageous for marking on diflicultly printable material such as wax paper or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for the effective and economical utilization of a marking tape having a heat releasable coating of marking material.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the subsequent detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a marking device comprising one specific embodiment of the invention;

Fig.' 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

2,864,309 Ptitented Dec. 16,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1; r 1

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view as seen along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along the line 88 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view of the marking tape used with the device. v

As mentioned briefly above, considerable difiiculty has been encountered in finding a satisfactory means for marking a high speed traveling web of wrapping material, particularly where the wrapping material is diflicult to print by ordinary printing techniques using wet inks or the like. For example, a wrapping material such as wax paper has a surface which is not particularly receptive to the usual type of printing ink. In order to avoid such ditficulties with inks or the like, the present invention makes use of a marking tape which is in the nature of a heat release transfer of dry ink. Referring first to Fig. 9 of the drawings, such a tape is designated generally at 10 and may comprise, for example, a paper backing 11 having on One side thereof a coating 12 of a suitable vegetable or mineral wax and an outermost layer 13 of marking material. This layer 13 is applied as a continuous film over the wax coating 12 and may comprise a conventional decalcomania ink or design layer such as an ethyl cellulose or nitro cellulose lacquer carrying any desired pigment. The opposite side of the paper tape or ribbon 11 may also have a Wax coating 14 so that the tape may be wound in a roll, the outermost wax coating 14 functioning in the manner of a slip sheet to insure proper unwinding of the tape from the roll. It will readily be seen that by placing the marking tape shown in Fig. 9 with the layer 13 in contact with the sheet material to be marked, a heated printing member bearing the desired indicia can then'be ap-v plied with relatively slight pressure against the outer .or back side 14 of the transfer whereupon the wax 12 will be melted and the ink coating released in the predetermined areascorresponding to the indicia of the printing member. The indicia thus released from the transfer or tape 10 adheres to the material being printed and is in effect transferred thereto by heat and pressure in much the same general manneras the heat release type transfers which are well known in the art for marking and decorative purposes. I

In the case of a high speed traveling web of wrapping material or the like, imprinting of the desired indicia is required only at spaced intervals along the traveling "ice Web. Consequently, it is not feasible "to have the marlo ing tape travel in the same direction as the Web being printed because there would obviously be a great waste of tape between successive prints. For purposes of the, present invention it has been found that most effective and economical use of the marking tape or ribbon, 10 can be obtained by causing the tape to travel continu-' ously in a'direction transverse to the direction of travel.

of the web being printed. As will hereinafter appear,- it is then possible to make substantially complete use of the coated area of the tape so that waste is held to a minimum.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawing, theprinting device for utilizing the tape 10 comprises an elongated support or casting 16 for mounting the various parts of the device. The support 16 has laterally turned'end portions 15 which carry a pair of integral axle or shaft members 15' for journaling the entire support for rotation. Although not shown in the drawing, it will be understood that the axle or shaft portions 15' are supported in suitable bear ings on -the framework of a wrapping machine or the like in conjunction with which the device of the present invention is used. In this particular embodiment the shaft portion 15' at the right handend of the device -as-seen in Figspl and 4 will have a suitable driving connection with a rotary-driving means (=notshown). Also mounted on the elongated rotarysupport 16, and described hereinafter in greater detail, are a reel 17 at one end of the support for feeding a roll of marking tape.10 and printing means 18 at the otherend of the support. In between the reel 17 and the printer 18, suitable feeding means is carried for unwinding the tape from the reel 17 and causing it to travel under suitable tension through the printing device 18 wherein a continuous traveling web 19 is imprinted With the desired indicia at desired spaced points along the web. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the tape .which emerges from the printing station 18 passes to a cutter unit 21 wherein the tape is cut into small pieces which are easily disposed of. Although the use of the cutter .21 provides a very convenient and satisfactory solution .to the problem of disposing of the used tape, it may .be that for some uses of the invention the cutting of the tapeinto small pieces is undesirable. In such case, a rewinding reel may be mounted on the rotary support .16 for :rewinding the used tape. Also, it should be mentioned that because of the somewhat eccentric or unbalanced loading of the rotatable support 16 relative to its axis of rotation, it may frequently be desirable .to add suitable counterweights to the end portions of the support 16 so that the device is balanced for proper rotation.

.-In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the tape 10 is unwound from the supply reel 17 by being pulled therefrom. In order to maintain proper tension in the tape during pulling or positive unwinding thereof from thereel, the reel structureisprovided witha friction clutch or brakefor exerting a predetermined drag or resistance. The details of the reelstructure are best seen in Fig.5. A reel spindle 22 is journaled .in a bearing'23 mounted'in .an aperturedboss portion 24.on,the rotatable support 16 and carries .anintegral flange .26 with an adjacent hub or spool mounting portion 27. An innermost disk-like flange member 28 is rigidly fastened to the spindle flange 26 by means of a plurality of screws 2950 as to provide a unitary assembly withthe reel spindle,22. The bulk supply of marking tape 10 isin theform of a roll 31 mounted on a spool 32 having a tight frictional tit over thehub portion 27 of the spindle for rotation with .the latter. At the outside of the tape reel 31, an outermost reel flange assembly is detachably mounted at the outer end of the spindle 22 so as to permit replacement of the tape reel 31. This outermostflange assemblycomprises a disk-like 'flange member33 which, to facilitate observation of the tapesupply, may be formed from .a suitable clear plastic. The flange member 33 in such case is rigidly clamped between a pair of telescopically fitted bushings 34 and '36 having radially extending flange portions for engaging the reel flange member 33. The bushings 34 and 36 are threadedly connected and the innermost bushing .34 has an axially slidabl'e fit on the outer end portion of the spindlei22.

The removable flange assembly 33-- 3436 is held tightly against'the outer axial end of the tape spool 32 by means of a spring pressed keyarrangementincluding an elongated reel key 37 having a tapered end portion 38 and an edgewise notch 39. The key 37 is adapted to be inserted transversely through a slot 41 in the outer end .ofthe spindle 22, and a spring pressed plunger or detent 43 seats in thenotch 39 for releasably holding the key 37in place during. rotation of the device. The plunger or detent 43. is a generallycup-shaped member ;slidably received in an endwise axial bore 44atthe outer end of the spindle22, and a plunger spring 46 coacts between the,plunger.43 and a spring retainerorHcap-47 threadedly secured in the outer end of the recess 44, As l readily apparent, the spring pressed plunger or detent retains the key 37 against inadvertent detachment while at the same time permitting the key to be withdrawn from the slot 41 when desired by reason of the retractable camming relation between the notch 39 and the coacting end of the plunger 43. When the key 37 is in place, the outermost reel flange 33 is held securely in position so that the tape 10 is properly guided between the flanges 28 and 33 during unwinding thereof.

For exterting the desired drag or resistance to rotary movement on the reel 17, the opposite end of the spindle 22 projects rearwardly through the support 16 and carries a spring 48 the compression of which is adjustable by means of a pair of jam nuts 49. The inner end of the spring 48 bears against a metal washer 51 having a noncircular central opening for keying the washer to an axially extending fiat 52 at the outer end of the spindle 22. The washer 51 thus rotates with the spindle 22, and a friction Washer 53 of fiber or the like is interposed between the metal washer '51 and the support 16. At the opposite side of the spindle journal, 2. metal washer 54 is mounted adjacent the boss 24 and another friction washer 56 of 'fiber or the like is interposed between the metal washer54 andthe real flange member 28. Since the spindle 22 is rotatable in the bearing 23 and also axially slidable therein, it will be understood that the effect of the reel spring 48 is to exert a predetermined frictional pressure between the washers 51 and 53 on the one hand and between the washer 56 and the members 54 and 28 on the other hand so that any desired degree of drag may be imparted to ther-otatable feed reel structure17.

For positively feeding or pulling the tape 10 from the reel 17, a drive arrangement is provided which is best seen in Figs. 1, 4, and 6. Referring first to Fig. .4, at the left hand end of the support 16 a stationary gear 57 is mounted with the left hand shaft portion 15 extending therethrough, the gear 57 being positively held against rotation by means of a supporting arm 58 secured rigidly to the gear 57 and also to a stationary bracket or other suitable portion of the main frame work of the machine, as shown fragmentarily at 59. At the rear of the elongated rotatable support 16, a drive shaft 61 is journaled in a pair of bearing blocks 62 and 63 which are rigidly secured to the support 16. One end of the driveshaft 61 carries a small gear or pinion 64 which meshes with the large stationary gear 57. As the support 16 rotates about .the axis .of the shaft portions 15,.the drive shaft 61 is thereby moved in an orbit around the axis of rotation, so that the intermeshing of the stationary gear 57 with the .pinion 64 causes rotation of thelatter and thereby drives the shaft 61 at a predetermined speed dependent upon the speed of rotation of the support .16. The opposite end of .the drive shaft 61 carries a worm 66 (Fig. .6) which drives a meshing worm wheel .or gear 67. A rubber surfaced drive roll 68 (Fig. 7) is mounted on the frame of the support 16 and has an integral shaft or spindle portion 69 extending through a bearing 71 in the support 16 to the rear of thelatter, the worm wheel 67 being secured to a reduced diameter end portion 72 on the drive roll spindle 69 so that the drive roll 68 is driven through the pinion 64, the drive shaft 61, the worm 66, the worm wheel 67, and the drive roll spindle portion 69.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the reel 17 is rotated in a clockwise direction during unwinding of the tape 10 therefrom, and the tape 10 extends downwardly under an idler roller 73 mounted on the support 16 andthencc generally longitudinally along the support to the printing device 18. As seen in Fig. l and as hereinafter described in further detail, the tape 10 extends across the printing section 18 at one side thereof and-is trained around an idler,roller 74 and thence in reverse direction through the printing means 18 andacross atension compensating idler designated .generally at 76 in Fig. 1. Finally, the tape 10 passes around the rubber surfaced positive drive roll 68 and thence into the cutting unit 21. For maintaining the emerging end of the tape in pressure contact with the rubber surfaced feed roll 68, a spring pressed feed pressure roller 77 having a hard surface is mounted closely adjacent the feed roll 68. The pressure roller 77 is rotatably supported on a short shaft 78 which is rigid with an upright arm 79 at the front side of the support 16. The arm 79 is in turn rigidly mounted on the end of a pivot shaft 81 which is rockably journaled in the support 16 and extends to the rear thereof where another arm 82 (Fig. 6) is likewise rigidly secured to the shaft 81 in eccentric or angular relation with respect to the arm 79. Thus, the rock shaft 81 with the arms 79 and 82 rigidly affixed thereto constitutes in effect a bell crank, and a spring 83 (Fig. 6) is connected by a pin 84 to the outer end of the arm 82 and also to the frame 16 by means not shown. By this arrangement, it

will be understood that the tension of the spring 83 causes the pressure roller 77 to be urged in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, into direct pressure contact with the drive roll 68 for clamping the tape therebetween. With the pressure thus exerted between the rubber surfaced drive roll 68 and the back-up or pressure roller 77, the tape 10 is positively driven or pulled through its path as heretofore described and the tape is thereby fed or unwound from the supply reel 17. Because of the frictional drag or resistance to unwinding in the reel 17 the desired taut condition of the tape 10 is maintained through the tape .feed system.

As described more fully below, the printing section 18 of the device causes a sequence of momentary impressions of heated printing members against the tape 10 which travels transversely to the moving web of material 19 and in superimposed relation therewith. A backup roll for the printing members is shown fragmentarily at 86 and it will be apparent that at the instant of printing the superimposed web 19 and the tape 10' are momentarily clamped between the printing member and the back-up roll 86. For minimum interference with the free travel of the web 19 and tape 10, the peripheral speed of the printing members is preferably correlated as closely as possible with the linear speed of the traveling web 19. However, at the instant of printing there is frequently an unavoidable small drag or resistance to travel imposed on the tape 10 due to the pressure of the printing contact. Consequently, with each successive printing contact there may be momentary increases in tension in the tape 10 inasmuch as there is no corresponding interruption in the positive feed of the tape by means of the rolls 68-77. In order to avoid possible breakage of the tape 10, the tension compensating means 76 is provided which relieves any momentary increases in tension in the tape. The tension release means 76 comprises a rockable arm 87 which is rigidly carried on a rock shaft 88 pivotally mounted in the support 16 intermediate the drive roll 68 and the printing section 18. The arm 87 has an idler roller 89 mounted at one end thereof with the tape 10 trained thereover. The opposite end of the arm87 on the opposite side of the rock shaft 88 has connected thereto a tension spring 91 for resiliently urging the arm 87 in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. l. The opposite end of the spring 91 is secured to a threaded stem 92 which is adjustably supported in an anchor member 93 having a swivel mounting on the support 16. By adjustment of the threaded member 92 relative to the swivelly supported anchor 93, the idler roller 89 is caused to maintain the tape emerging from the printing section 18 in a desired taut condition. However, in the event that excessive tension is imposed upon the tape 10 during a momentary printing contact, the arm 87 can rock in a counterclockwise direction against the action of the spring 91 to relieve the tension without interference with the uniform feed of the tape, and immediately thereafter the spring 91 returns the arm 87 to its initial position.

The structure and operation of the printing section 18 will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings. A generally rectangular block comprising a printing head 94 is rigidly mounted on therotary support 16 as by means of a screw 96, and the printing head 94 is heated by means of a pair of small cartridge-like electrical heating elements 97 which are disposed in suitable bores in the head 94 and retained therein as by set screws 98. Although not shown in the drawing, it will be'understood by those skilled in the art that electrical current is supplied to the heaters 97 through suitable leads extending from a commutator and slip ring assembly (not shown) which may be mounted on the right hand end of the rotating support 16 in the usual manner for supplying electric current to a rotating device. A thermostat control (not shown) may also be mounted in the head 94. To minimize'the transmission of heat from the printing head 94, an insulating bushing 99 is disposed around the screw 96 and an insulating washer 101 is interposed between the head 94 and the support 16. At each of the diametrically opposite ends of the printing head 94, a slot 102 is provided for receiving a removable type holder assembly 103. Each type holder assembly 103 has a multiple part construction comprising an L-shaped element 104, a plate element 106, and a pair of dowel pins 107 interconnecting the same. A printing member in the form of a slug type 108 bearing the desired indicia is clamped between the elements 104 and 106 and projects beyond the corresponding end of the printing head 94 for making printing contact with the marking tape and web. As seen in Fig. 3, the L-shaped holder element 104 and the type slug 108 have interlocking protuberance and socket portions, as at 109, for fur ther retaining the parts in assembled relation. In addition, a removable key 111 is also provided at each end of the printing head 94 and coacts with the corresponding type holder assembly for'removably retaining the latter in the slots 102.

At opposite sides of the printing head 94, a pair of spaced supports or bridge members in the form of circular guide rings 112 are rigidly secured in axially spaced relation on the support 16 by means of a pluralityof screws 113. These guide rings112 each have diametrically opposed recesses 114 each of which' is bridged over by a thin defiectable support 116. The rings 112 may conveniently comprise annular sections. of fiber or other non-metallic tubing and the bridging supports 116 maybe thin metal strips. As best seen in Fig. 3, the outermost axial edge portions of the recesses 114 are curved inwardly to facilitate flexing or deflection of the resilient supports 116. At each end of the head 94, each pair of supports 116 on the guide rings 112 is in alignment with one of the'intermediate type slugs 108 and the marking tape 10 extends thereacross in printing relation with the slugs 108. As most clearly seen in Fig. 3, the hard surfaced back-up roller 86 projects slightly in between the spaced guide rings 112 so as to deflect the superimposed web 19 and marking tape 112 into suitable printing contact with'the outwardly projecting end of the type slug 108. As the support 116 rotates about its axis, the respective type slugs 108 of the double printing head 94 are thus brought into successive printing contact with the superimposed tape 10 and web 19. The" position of the back-up wheel 86 is, of course, regulated so that the correct degree of pressure is imposed by the type slugs 108, and the deflectable supports 116 on the guide rings 112 are eifective to maintain the proper tension in the web 19 and the tape 10 during deflection thereof between the guide rings 112 into printing contact with the type slugs 108. By reason of the'heaters 97 mounted in the printing head 94, the type slugs 108 are heated sufliciently so that by application of the proper degree of heat and pressure during each printing contact,

the desired indicia is heat released from the marking tape 10 and transferred to the web 19 in the manner hereinabove described in connection with Fig. 9. Also,-

7 aspreviouslydescribed, the tension compensating mechanism 76 serves to relieve any slight increase in tension in the tape 10 which may occur at the instant of each printing contact.

Although it is within the scope of the invention to utilize only a single type slug or printing member 108 on the printing head 94, important advantages are frequently realized by providing a plurality of printing members or type slugs on the printing head. As will be evident, the peripheral speed of each type slug 108 should be as close as possible to the linear speed of the travelling web 19 in order to obtain proper printing or marking. However, with only a single printing element on -a rotating head, considerable difficulty may be encountered in obtaining the proper speed because of the problem of heating the printing member which necessarily increases the size of the structure which must be rotated. By incorporating a plurality of printing elements in the head, in this case two, it is possible to utilize asomewhat larger printing head with ample room for the heating elements while at the same time obtaining a high peripheral speed with a moderate rotational speed for the entire device. However, by reason of the multiple printing element construction it will also be evident from Fig. 3 that successive printings by the type slugs 108 on the tape 10 are made in a back and forth alternating fashion with respect to the linear travel of the tape 10. In other words, as the tape 10 travels linearly in the directionindicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 and the type slugs 108 are brought into successive printing contact with the traveling tape 10, the successive printings will be applied to the tape in spaced relation and in an alternately shifting manner with respect to the longitudinal direction of tape travel.

To illustrate this effect, in the position of the device shown in Fig. 3 the uppermost printing slug 108 will produce an imprint from the tape 10 at the location designated as A. The next successive imprint will be made by the lowermost type slug 108 after it has completed the necessary one-half revolution to bring it into printing position with respectto back-up roller 86. However, during this interim the traveling tape 10 has advanced a certain distance so that the imprint is made from the tape at the location designated at B in Fig. 3. As the printing head 94 continues to revolve and the device is returned to the printing position shown in Fig. 3, the third successive imprint will be made at an intermediate location along the tape 10 suchas shown .at C. The alternating sequence is continued in the same back and forth fashion, the next successive imprint being, for example, at D and the following imprint being at .E in between the prior spaced prints B and C.

Since the tape driving or feeding means is operated in response to rotation of the entire device, it will be seen that the linear speed of the tape 10 is substantially constant and likewise the rotary speed of the support 16 and the printing head 94 are also constant so that thevtime intervals between successive printings by-the type slugs 108, i. e., the time for one-half revolution of the device, is substantially constant. Consequently, it is possible to regulate the location of the successive imprints from the tape 10 by varying the distance of tape travel between the respective type slugs 108. To permit this desired adjustment, the idlerroller 14 over which the tape 10 is trained during passagethereof between the successive printing slugs108has .an.eccentric mounting as best seen in Fig. 8. Thus, the roller 74 is rotatably supported on an end shaft portion 117 of an eccentric having a central flange 118. .At the opposite end of the eccentric another shaft portion 119extends rearwardly from the flange 118 in eccentric relation with respect to the axis of the roller shaft .117,and is rigidly .securedin desired eccentric position eon the support 16 by means of a screw 121. Obviously, by regulation of the screw 121, the eccentric member. canrbei rigidly positioned I for any predetermined degree of eccentricity so as to locate the idler roller 74 at a desired distance from the printing head 94. By variation of this distance through the eccentric mounting, the distance of linear travel of the tape 10 from one of the printing slugs 108 to the other printing slug is thereby subject to slight variation with consequent variation in the time necessary for a given location on the tape 10 to travelfrom one printing slug to the other. Accordingly, for any given installation, the idler roller 74 is so located as to permit maximum utilization of the tape 10 by causing tr e adjacent imprints on the tape to be spaced as closely together as possible.

As the used tape passes from the printing station 18 and over the tension compensating mechanism 76 as hereinbefore described, it is fed upwardly between the feed and pressure-rolls 6877 to the cutting device 21 which in this case disposes of the used tape by cutting the same into small pieces and thereby eliminating the necessity of rewinding the used tape. Although this cutting scheme is a highly convenient disposal technique for many uses of the printing device, it is also within the scope of the invention to mount a rewind reel or other rewinding means on the support 16 in order to receive the used tape.

The details of the cutter 21 may best be understood by particular reference to Figs. 1, 4, 6, and 7. A knife block or bed 122 is rigidly affixed to the support 16 immediately above the feed and pressure rolls 68-77, and a generally L-shaped tape guide member 123 is pivotally mounted on the support 16 by means of a stud 124. A torsion spring 126 coacts between the stud 124 and the guide 123 for normally urging the latter into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 wherein the outwardly extending arm portion, indicated at 127, of the guide is disposed in slightly spaced parallel relation with respect to the guide block or bed 122 so that the tape 10 can extend upwardly therebetween. The outer end of the arm 127 has a finger lift 128 to facilitate outward swinging of the guide member 123 when it is necessary to adjust or manipulate the tape. The upper surface of the block 122 functions as a stationary cutting bed for a knife blade 129 mounted on the support 16 above the guide 123 and adapted to swing transversely across the upper end of the bed 122 in cutting relation therewith whereby to cut off successive small pieces of the tape 10 as the latter is fed upwardly between the bed 122 and the guide 123. For pivotally mounting the knife 129, an L-shaped lever 131 is supported on an upright pivot 132 (Fig. 7) extending into the support 16. The knife blade 129 is rigidly secured to the opposite arm of the lever 131 and extends forwardly from the support into cooperating relation with the knife bed 122. For holding the knife blade 129 down in flatwise cutting relation against the cooperating upper end of the bed 122, a spring 133 is provided around the pivot 132 and coacts between a washer 134 and the lever 131 for resiliently urging the latter downwardly as best seen in Fig. 7.

To effect cutting of the used tape into small pieces, the pivotally mounted knife blade 129 must be actuated at predetermined intervals and retracted after each cutting movement. For this purpose, a tension spring 136 (Fig. 6) extends between an upright anchor 137 on the bearing block 63 and a similar anchor 138 carried on the knife lever 131 whereby the knife blade 129 is normally urged into cutting position relative to the bed 122. A cam pin 139 depends from the underside of the knife lever 131 and coacts with a circular cam 141 which is mounted for rotation on the drive shaft 61. The cam element 141 has an annular cam surface or track designated at 142 which is continuous and uninterrupted with the exception of a single pocket or recess 143. By the action of the spring 136, the pin 139 is continuously held in engagement with the cam track 142 and as the cam element 141 rotates with the drive shaft 61, it will be seen that once in each; revolution the pin 139 enters the cam recess 143 thereby permitting theknife pivot lever 131 to swing the knife blade 129 toward the knife bed 122 to eflect a single cutting operation. As the cam element 141 continues to rotate, the pin 139 is cammed outwardly from the recess 143 and the knife blade 129 is thereby retracted and is ready for the next cutting movement. By proper selection of the cam element 14 it will be evident that the extent and frequency of each cutting movement of the knife blade 129 can be regulated so that the used tape is cut into pieces of the desired size.

From the foregoing, it wiil be seen that the present invention provides a compact and highly advantageous printing mechanism for the utilization of a marking tape of the type described. By providing a tape handling system wherein the marking tape is fed transversely to the path of travel of the Web being printed and by further utilizing a printing head having a multiplicity of printing elements with provision for regulation of successive printings on the tape, the invention permits very effective and substantially complete utilization of the marking tape so that wastage of tape is held to a minimum. Moreover, the invention also provides a unique scheme for disposing of the used tape without the necessity of rewinding the same and such scheme will have particular advantages in many types of operations.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to a specific structural embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that various modifications and equivalent structures may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A marking device comprising an elongated rotatable support, a stationary gear mounted at one end of said support and coaxially therewith, printing means mounted on said support for .printing at spaced intervals on a moving Web during rotation of the support, a marking tape reel mounted on said support for rotation about its axis, tape feed means including a drive roll engaging the tape for positively unwinding the tape from said reel and feeding the same in printing relation between said printing means and the web, said drive roll being mounted on said support and positioned to engage said tape after said tape has passed said printing means, an elongated rotatable drive shaft journaled on said support parallel to the axis of rotation of the support, and gear means at the opposite ends of said drive shaft operatively connected to said stationary gear and to said drive roll for driving the latter in response to rotation of said support about its axis.

2. A marking device comprising an elongated rotatable support, a stationary gear mounted-at one end of said support and coaxially therewith, printing means mounted on said support for printing at spaced intervals on a moving Web during rotation of the support, a marking tape reel mounted on said support for rotatlon about its axis, tape feed means including a drive roll mounted web, a reciprocable cutter mechanism mounted on said support for cutting into small pieces the used marking tape from said printing means, an elongated rotatable drive shaft journaled on said support parallel to the axis of rotation of the support, gear means at the opposite ends of said drive shaft operatively connected to said stationary gear and to said drive roll for driving the latter in response to rotation of said support about its axis, and cam means carried by said drive shaft and operatively coacting with said-cutter mechanism for actuating the latter also in response to rotation of the supportabout its axis.

3. A marking device comprising a rotatable support, a printing head mounted on said support for rotation therewith and carrying a pair of diametrically'spaced printing elements for successively imprinting on a moving web during rotation of the support, a marking tape reel mounted on said support, and means for continuously feeding the tape from said reel across one of said printing elements and thence reversely across the other of said printing elements whereby the tape is interposed in printing relation between each of said printing elements and the web as the printing head is rotated relative to the web.

4. A marking device comprising an elongated rotatable support, a printing head mounted on said support for rotation therewith and carrying a pair of diametri cally spaced printing elements for successively imprinting on a moving web during rotation of the support, a marking tape reel mounted on said support on one side of said printing head, an idler roller mounted on said support at the opposite side of said printing head, and means for continuously feeding the tape from said reel across one of said printing elements, around said idler roller, and thence reversely across the other of said printing elements whereby the tape is interposed in printing relation between each of said printing elements and the web as the printing head is rotated relative to the web.

5. The device of claim 4 further characterized in that said idler roller is rotatably mounted on an eccentric shaft having an adjustable mounting on said support whereby the eccentricity of the shaft mounting relative to the axis of the idler roller is adjustable for varying the linear distance of tape travel from said one printing element around said idler roller to said other printing element.

6. A marking device comprising a rotatable support, a printing head mounted on said support, a pair of spaced guide elements mounted on said support on oppo-' site sides of said head, a plurality of printing elements carried by said head for successively imprinting on a moving web during rotation of the support, heating means associated with each of said printing elements, a marking tape reel mounted on the support, and means for continuously feeding the tape from said reel and transversely across said guide elements and the respective printing elements whereby the tape is interposed in printing relation between said printing elements and the web, the portions of the tape bridging said guide elements being deflectable together with the web inwardly between said guide elements into contact with said printing elements. 7 I

7. A marking device comprising a rotatable support, printing means mounted on said support for printing from a tape at spaced intervals on a moving web during rotation of said support, a marking tape reel rotatable about its axis and mounted on said support, tape feeding means for unwinding said tape from said reel and feeding the tape in printing relation between said printing means and said web, said tape feeding means being mounted on said support and positioned to engage said tapeafter said tape has passed said printing means, drive means on said support for actuating said tape feeding means in response to rotation of said support whereby the speed of said tape is controlled by the rotative speed of said support, and a tension absorbing device mounted on said support intermediate said printing means and said feeding means for resiliently absorbing the increases in tension in said tape that occur during printing contact of said printing means with the tape and web.

8. A marking device comprising a rotatable support, printing means mounted on said support and including a pair of diametrically opposed printing elements for printing from a tape at spaced intrevals on a moving web during the rotation of said support, a marking tape reel rotatable about its axis and mounted on said support, frictional brake means on said reel for imposing on said reel a predetermined resistance to rotation whereby to maintain the tape in taut condition during unwinding thereof, tape feeding means on said support for unwinding the tape from said reel and feeding the tape 11 from said reel across one of said printing elements and thence reversely across the other of said printing elements, whereby the tape is interposed in printing relation between each of said printing elements and said web, and positive drive means on said support for actuating said tape feeding means in response to rotation of said support whereby the speed of said tape is controlled by the rotative speed of said support.

9. A marking device comprising an elongated rotatable support, a stationary gear mounted at one end of said support and coaxially therewith, printing means mounted on said support for printing at spaced intervals on a moving web during rotation of the support, a marking tape reel mounted on said support for rotation about its axis, tape feed means for positively unwinding the tape from said reel and feeding the same in printing relation between said printing means and the web, an elongated rotatable drive shaft journaled on said support parallel to the axis of rotation of the support. and gear means at the opposite ends of said drive shaft operatively connected to said stationary gear and said tape feed means, respectively, for driving the latter in response to rotation of said support about its axis.

References, Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,759,712 Richardson May 20, 1930 2,370,416 Polley Feb. 27, 1945 2,586,905 Bates Feb. 26, 1952 

